The Heligan estate was originally bought by the Tremaynes in the 16th century, and earlier members of the family were responsible for Heligan House and the (still private) gardens that immediately surround it. However, the more extensive gardens now open to the public were largely the result of the efforts of four successive squires of Heligan. These were: •
Rev. Henry Hawkins Tremayne •
John Hearle Tremayne, son of Henry Hawkins Tremayne •
John Tremayne, son of John Hearle Tremayne •
John Claude Lewis Tremayne, son of John Tremayne and better known as "Jack" Two estate plans, dating from 1777 and sometime before 1810, show the changes wrought to the Heligan estate during Henry Hawkins' ownership. The first plan shows a predominantly parkland estate, with the site of today's Northern Gardens occupied by a field. The second plan shows the development of shelter belts of trees surrounding the gardens, and the main shape of the Northern Gardens, the Mellon Yard and the Flower Garden are all readily discernible. Henry Hawkins' descendants each made significant contributions to the development of the gardens, including the ornamental plantings along the estate's Long Drive, The Jungle, the
hybridising of
rhododendrons and their planting around Flora's Green, and the creation of the Italian Garden. The restoration, which was the subject of a six-part
Channel 4 television series produced by Bamboo Productions and Cicada Films in 1996, proved to be an outstanding success, not only revitalising the gardens but also the local economy around Heligan by providing employment. The gardens are now leased by a company owned by their restorers, who continue to cultivate them and operate them as a visitor attraction. ==References==